Page 3 of The Ghost of Rage's War

“Around the same time, the FBI began hearing of an organised criminal gang operating out of this area. And suddenly, seven MCs that’d been clean started getting dirty fingers. Satan’s Warriors, The Rider’s of Vengeance, Hellfire, Rage, The Unwanted Bastards, Devil’s Damned Disciples, and Devil’s Scythe all turned tits up within a few years of each other. We suspected this organisation had infiltrated them.”

Ghost interrupted, “Oh, come on, bro, conspiracy theories?”

“What are the odds of seven clean clubs suddenly diving into illegal shit? All turning within two years of each other. And each of them a main MC? The Bureau sent people in, Ghost, and they ended up dead. One of our agents managed to get a name to us. Manticore. That’s what they call themselves. He had a bullet in his brain twenty-four hours later. He was a prospect at Rage,” Anderson said, and Ghost hissedin a sharp breath.

“Runner? He was a Fed?”

“Yeah. And you recognise it. Manticore.”

“Heard a brother mention it before. But Fury’s missing.”

“Manticore was controlling everything around here. Prostitutes, guns, drugs, human trafficking, whoever these men are, they have an operative in each club and are running things. We believe that Manticore was going to combine the clubs into one and spread out, but Chance and Drake began making waves. We’re hearing Onyx has been seen in South Dakota, and half of the Rider’s of Vengeance are looking for him, and the others are hunting him.”

“Onyx is alive?” Ghost demanded.

“Yeah, and bodies are starting to drop over there. Onyx has come to claim his club back. Same as Drake and Chance,” Anderson confirmed.

“Shit,” Ghost muttered, rubbing a hand over his face.

“Bulldog sent eight men to kill you, Brock. He had three in the apartment, two in the stairwell in case you escaped, and the rest outside. You were meant to die, brother, the question is why? I didn’t know until now, but you said you’ve heard of Manticore. I think that is why. In case you began connecting the dots.”

“Manticore needed to silence me. And that’s probably why Fury disappeared, too. No doubt he’s dead. They shut us both up. Fury had been acting cagey before his disappearance. I overheard him tell Bulldog that Manticore would withdraw protection ifhe didn’t obey. Looks like Manticore was using Fury to deliver a message. They might have threatened him as well,” Ghost said.

“The bureau needs information on Manticore. We’ve discovered a connection. Manticore will continue to be a threat to Rage and your allied MCs. If Michaelson wins this war, Manticore will strive to grab Rage back. Do you understand, brother? Michaelson may think Rage is safe, but it won’t be because whoever is behind Manticore will bide their time.”

“Who is the link you’ve discovered?” Ghost asked.

“Miguel Santos has a son called Romeo. For now, Romeo is working in the background for his father. We’ve not got any proof to bring them in, but we believe Romeo won’t stay under his dad’s thumb for long. The man is already starting to build allies within his father’s team. We want you to join Romeo Santos and discover the connection and use him to gain access to Manticore,” Anderson said.

“You’ve honestly got nothing else to give me? Just rumours of a shadowy group and Romeo Santos?”

“That’s all we have. Other than the fact we understand heavy shit is happening in RC. For each asshole we arrest, ten more take their places. Missing women have rocketed around here, they’re being trafficked. And those fuckers avoid every trap we place.”

“Sounds like the FBI has a leak, brother,” Ghost replied.

“Yeah, we have. Which is why only my immediateboss is aware you’re alive. I’m going to claim your worldly goods, so you’ll have money behind you, but the Harley needs to go. You’d be recognised on it,” Anderson stated.

“Ain’t selling my bike, bro, not a chance in hell. It can go into storage. I’ll buy another one, but nobody touches my Hog,” Ghost ordered.

“Sounds like you’re in,” Anderson said, sounding smug.

“Wipe that tone from your voice. If Manticore were behind Rage’s spiral and were supporting Bulldog, I want to know about it. If those fuckers come at Drake, I’ll be there to stop them. Drake will make the club free. They’re fighting right now, but Drake will win. Don’t doubt him. Rage will get clean. Meanwhile, I’ll hunt this mystical Manticore and bring them down,” Ghost promised.

If Rage still had a threat levelled at them, then Ghost would do whatever was needed to end it. Ghost’s death rendered him invisible. Nobody would expect to see him. He had the best cover.

“Gotta grow my hair out and change the colour, this white is too blatant. I’ll need contacts and to grow a beard to hide the scar on my lower cheek too. Dark brown hair dye will be best to match my beard. That or I go bald,” Ghost mused.

“You’ll have to dye your hair every six to eight weeks,” Anderson said.

“Look at you in touch with your feminine side, bitch,” Ghost retorted, closing his eyes. He was tired, but his mind whirled with everything Anderson hadtold him. Currently, he was overwhelmed. Hell, Ghost’s brothers were out there right now, mourning his death.

Guilt bit him in the ass. But if Ghost took this story to Drake, could they ensure it didn’t get out?

Ghost didn’t trust everyone that had sided with Drake. Some, he believed, had seen the writing on the walls and chose to cover their own asses. Yeah, there was more than one in Rage on Drake’s side that Ghost questioned the loyalties of…

Sleep crept up on him, and before Ghost knew it, he’d succumbed.

Anderson

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